The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-07-21

tCCpBvs0"seos Ao0eI
Perhaps one of the most interesting
phases Of what 10 called the economic
value Of animals IL that relating to
those used by man as workers. They
range from birds to fishes, and from in
sects to elephants. From the very
earliest times man has thus depended
upon his humble friends in the lower
walks Of life. Formerly 1t was the prac-
tice Of sportsmen to fasten live ducks,
geese or swan in the water, that they
might attract their wilder companions;
and even these birds have been trained
to swim about among the wild flock and
entice them nearer shore. These have
been superseded by the decoys Of wood
and paper, 90 artificial fishes are used as
bait, frogs, insects and even worms all
being so delicately and skillfully con-
structed that the wariest fish-the trout
is completely deceived. All these decep-
tions are the outgrowth of the former
use of real animals, and even now there
are numbers that are trained to take i'm
portant parts In the capture Of various
game.
In many of the West India islands the
hawksbill and green turtles are very
common, and their capture forms an i'm
portant business to the native fishermen
who have several methods of taking them.
One is by turning the animals as they are
lying upon the beach, but this is confined
to certain months; another consists of
striking them with q peg, which, how
ever, often Injuries them SO as to unfit
them for long transportation. But
there is still another way that must
have been invented by very lazy
fisherman. In these waters, and also
on our own shores, occasionally, Is
found . curious long black and white fish,
always in attendance upon sharks, turtles,
and other large fishes. From following
about animals SO much larger than
itself 1t would necessarily become
tired, but nature has supplied it with
? method of resting novel in the ex-
II ie. 1t consists of long, oval plate
T., ,,on the head formed of transverse
bands, calling to mind in structure q
venetian blind. When these blinds are
pressed upon . foreign body they have
the faculty of forcing out the air and
clinging exactly as does the leather upon
the stone in the experiment SO often
tried by boys. In fact, the blind-like
arrangement is sucking disk, and when
the remora, for this is the fish's name,
becomes tired it merely turns over on
its back, fastens its disk upon a shark or
turtles back and goes to sleep.
The fishermen, observing this habit of
the remora, determined to adapt it to
their own craft, 30 numbers of these fish
are caught previous to turtle hunt,
carefully placed in tubs Of water in the
boats, and during the day man is sta
toned in the bow on the lookout. As
soon - turtle 10 sighted on the bottom
or near the boat remora is taken out of
the tub, leather ring, to which is at
tached long cod-line, is fastened to its
tail and so harnessed it is thrown over
board, when, seeing one of its former
companions 80 near, it makes for it and
10 soon hard and fast clinging by its
disk.
This accomplished the fisherman be-
gins to haul upon the line, and away goes
the turtle towing the boat along, the un-
fortunate remora bearing all the strain.
Sometimes the race is kept up mile or
more before the turtle is tired out; then
II 10 taken alongside, and if not too large
lifted into the boat, the fish being taken
OF and returned to its tub to await
another find. In this human labor saving
way great many turtles are caught that
perhaps find their way to the north.
Among these islands and also in the
East various birds are used in . similar
way to capture fish for their owners.
Tho long billed and clumsy pelican is
thus utilized, its great pouch being used
- . "stowawsy." In feeding the peli-
cans soar over the shoals about twenty
feet above the water, and upon sighting
. school dash down into it with outspread
bills, capturing as many of the fish as
they can; then, while resting upon the
water, toss them into the throat.
II now . loose band has been placed
8UOuL tu0 0oCA OI Iuc DlEu, INC uuuy VIC.
Tins collect in the pouch and are finally
brought ashore by the pelican, the supply
being taken out by the owner of the
bird. Al but small fishes are caught by
the pelican, they are only valued as bait
catchers, their game being used in turn
TO capture larger fishes.
In China, however, the native fisher
men have . bird that catches large fish,
and thus embodies oil the qualities
Of hook, line and bait. This is the cor
morant, and, curiously enough, years ago
II was used in England, the master
Of the cormorants being no unimportant
officer Of the royal household. These
birds form . valuable item to the
Chinese fishermen. A famous place for
them 10 on the Ningpo canal and be-
tween the towns of Hangchowfoo and
Shanghai. The birds are not caught by
the fishermen and trained, but are
bought from regular training establish
Dents, the largest of which is situated
about thirty miles from Shanghai. Per-
fsctly trained birds bring about a
apiece-a large sum in China.
when in use the birds rest upon the
gunwsle Of the boat, and sometimes are
kept muxsled. Al soon - the fishing.
ground ID reached the master places
Jonther band about their necks to pre-
vent their swallowing the fish and orders
Ahnun 0vap In Hhnv wn 18th . .rIa.h